Peso Weekly

No one conquered Southeast Asia's toughest trails faster than Elizabeth Dangadang, who defended her 75-kilometer crown as the Philippines swept the entire women's podium.

Follow .ph for daily bites of news, fun, and life.

Albert Ian Delos Santos won three gold medals for Team Philippines at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Competing on his 20th birthday, the Zamboanga City lifter ruled the junior men’s 70kg division and set new junior Asian and world records in clean and jerk and total.

PhilHealth plays a central role in protecting Filipino families from high healthcare costs. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho as PhilHealth President and CEO, bringing a dedicated public health physician and Harvard-trained policy expert to lead the agency.

Having served as DOH Undersecretary, Director of Health Promotion, and Chief Health Officer at AC Health, Dr. Ho played a key role in implementing Universal Health Care.

While PhilHealth has made progress such as reducing claims processing times to 22 days and introducing up to ₱20,000 in free outpatient medicines via PhilHealth GAMOT, the focus now shifts to nationwide clinic accreditation, smoother digital systems, and reliable patient access.

Having a technical expert lead our national health insurer is a promising step toward accessible, preventive care for all Filipinos.

Kimberly Custodio is now a four-time JJIF World Champion after winning gold in the women’s -45kg division at the 2026 JJIF World Championships in Abu Dhabi.

The Ilongga martial artist swept all four matches, while fellow Filipina Eliecha Zoe Malilay also reached the podium with bronze.

The Philippines is rich in natural, agricultural, marine, and energy resources: nickel, coconut, bananas, pineapple, gold, copper, tuna, seaweed, geothermal power, and abaca. These resources support exports, industries, food systems, clean energy, and global supply chains. But the more important question is Filipino-centered: who benefits from this wealth?

Heavy monsoon rains recently washed tons of trash ashore near Baclaran Church in Parañaque, creating a full-blown "garbage crisis" in Manila Bay.

While cleanup operations immediately began, images of sanitation workers wading neck-deep into toxic, garbage-choked water highlight a deeper problem.

In 2026, relying on human beings as manual strainers in hazardous water is an occupational health failure. Automated river skimmers, solar-powered trash interceptors, and floating conveyor barges are mature, proven technologies used globally.

With billions allocated to national flood control, local and national agencies must invest in automated infrastructure to clean our waterways safely and restore dignity to public sanitation work.

Photo courtesy:
Niño Jesus Orbeta / Philippine Daily Inquirer
Noel Celis/Reuters
Jury Leynes

Francisco Motors, one of the names tied to the Filipino jeepney, is preparing a proposed ₱6-billion investment to build two electric vehicles: the Elektron compact SUV and an electric jeepney.

The plan is being positioned under the government’s EV incentive program and would include local production of key parts such as the body, chassis, wiring, and battery packs.

The company says the bigger goal is to bring more vehicle-making capability into Filipino hands. For now, production, specifications, pricing, and delivery timelines still depend on final approval and confirmation.

Alex Eala’s rise has brought new attention to Philippine tennis, but she is not the only name worth following.

The next wave includes juniors and young players building their resumes through ITF events, national tournaments, school competitions, and Philippine team pathways.

Maristella Torrecampo, Tennielle Madis, Stefi Marithe Aludo, Jana Jelena Nicole Diaz, and Stephen Fuertes are among the young Filipino tennis names with recent results and development potential.

They are not yet on Eala’s level, but that is exactly why they are worth watching now, while their stories are still being built.

A recent report from Pangasinan has renewed a hard question about bail: what happens when an accused person is legally bailable but cannot afford release?

Philippine law says bail is intended to guarantee court appearance, and courts must consider an accused person’s financial ability.

The law also provides recognizance for eligible indigent accused persons, subject to court requirements.

Theft allegations must go through due process. But where bail is beyond a person’s means, the gap between being bailable on paper and free before trial can become painfully real